The Washington critic., 1887-08-26
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


To Americans, says Cath" in his
last London letter to the Cincinnati
Enquirer: The old city OF York has a
particular interest as the residence of
the Fairfax family, which had so much
TO do with giving employment and
career to General Washington. There
is certain resemblance between Sir
Thomas Fairfax and Washington.
Fairfax was the first great commander
OF the Parliamentary army. He was
eclipseu in time by Cromwell, but he
had so much moderation and dignity
that he never showed any envy or re.
sentiment, and when Charles the First
was tried and executed, 1t appears thai
Fairfax's wife raised her voice In West
minister Hall against the performance.
The house of the Fairfaxes has per-
ished; on the site now stands manu-.
factory OF mathematical instruments.
In the immediate vicinity Of York
Cathedral they still point out tailor's
shop, where George Hudson, who was
the Jay Gould OF early railway specu
lations, spent his more mechanical
youth.
~
Speaking OF the Yellowstone Park
in recent interview at Helena, Mon.
tana, SenatorVest Of Missouri says; ut
seems to me singular that Congress
cannot be induced to give more atten-
tion TO this magnificent reservation.
1t is estimated that our people will
spend this year $3.50, 900, 600 in visiting
Europe, when we have within our ter.
Iitory scenery which excels anything
that can be seen abroad. The park
is also the greatest sanitarium in the
world. The air is so pure that it can
be tasted, and the hot baths are un.
equaled anywhere. Notwithstanding
this there is In some quarters sys-
tematlc attempt 10 break up the park
for mercenary purposes, and every
where general Indifference, which is
very disheartenlug to those who would
like TO see the National Park what 1t
was intended to be In the act of Con.
gress which originally dedicated it ms
place of recreation and resort for the
people of the United States forever.
The park has within its limits the head.
waters of both the Columbia and Mis-
souri, rivers, and II is of the greatest
importance that the immense forests
should be preserved In order to pre-.
vent serious overtlows In the Mississippi
valley. 1t frequently happens that no
rain falls In this region for months at a
time, aud the result Is that the earth Is
covered with q bed of dry leaves aud
branches of trees, which can be ignited
by single spark. An immense amount
of timber Is destroyed by the fires thus
originated. For this, If for no other
reason, 1t is of the highest importance
that these forests In the park should be
preserved. They are not valuable for
timber, nor is there any laud In the
park. either as now situated or as pro.
posed to be, which is suitable for
grazing or agricultural purp oses,"
~.
1t is just thirty years ago, says the
New York Grdphic, that Algernon S.
Paddock, the Nebraska Senator, left
his home at Glens Falls and went West
to grow up with the country. He set.
tied in Omaha and made some money,
and then he began to dabble in Repub.
lican politics. He was not very sue
cessful at first, but when President
Lincoln made him Secretary of the
Territory of Nebraska, in 1861, he
began to be power there, and held
the Office until 1867 when Nebraska
was admitted to the Union. He had
grown wealthy in the meantime, and
.,f lao I,t.t
kind in the West, he started out to
make fight for place In the United
States Senate. He won seat In 1875
but when his term was ended he was
defeated for re election by Charles Van
Wyck, who has since become so well
known. and who couple OF years be
fore had represented the Orange County
District of this State In the Lower
House OF Congress. Last year Messrs
Paddock and Van Wyck had their old
fight over again, and this time Mr.
Paddock won.
~
Says Henry Clews OF New York Ii
his Personal Recollections:" believ,
that one hundred years hence the err
of bridges will have passed away, ant
that instead Of one or two or liv,
bridges across the East River, we will
have pneumatic tubes at every pier
and believe the same will be true OF
either side and the end of the island
These tubes will spread from New
York, as the veins from the humal
body spread out and are supplied from
the heart, for New York Is not onl,
the business heart of this country, bu
II is destined to be, so surely as Goo
permits growth, the business heart o
The world and the money CCntTe of tn
world. And the velus from this centr
will distribute the blood all over, ant
in all directions. Through these pncu
mAiiC tubes l believe there will be al
most instantaneous communication O
transportation of people from one p1iu
TO another; nor Will this be confined I,
New York city only. la the nel
future the Trunk Line Railroad t.
leading points. such as Washington
Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago vii
probably run tralus at the rate Of 10
miles an hour, and even this will Onl
be beginning. To admit of this
steel rails will be required of abDu
double their present weight, and tn
wheels must be proportionately mas
sive and strong. The risk attendan
upon such increased speed will be N
greater than the ordinary speed of tn
present day, say forty miles an hour